Engineering Research Equipment Grant: Computer Aided Control System Design

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A crossdisciplinary effort between the PI and John Doyle's group in electrical engineering has resulted in the development of some outstanding control algorithms and real usable software. Funds provided in this grant are to upgrade the PI's computer facilities to foster further developments in this area by providing him and his students a SUN microcomputer system including a file server and two workstations. The specific projects to benefit from the new equipment will include a) Analysis and synthesis of robust multivariable control systems for nonlinear closed loop systems often operated at the intersection of a set of complex constraints. Systems studied include complex distillation configurations and packed bed reactors. b) On-line optimization via computers with distribute processors. The PI will be able to contribute to the development of the "cosmic cube" (which involves 64 processors connected in the form of a Boolean cube) and is using it to study the optimal compressor operation of gas transmission pipelines. c) Development of a user-friendly expert system for robust control system design. The PI and his co-workers have already developed some software but it requires expertise on the part of the user. Further research will enable practicing engineers to use this software.